Kyoto Colors - Rivers

Kamo River with Mount Hiei in the Background

Running north to south across the east side of the city, the Kamo River is the mother river for Kyotoites. It is said that the course of the river was altered to the eastern edge of the city when the Heian Capital was constructed at the end of eighth century.

In the past, the Kamo River often flooded threatening the people of the ancient capital. In fact, in the Tale of the Heike, it is cited that the Emperor Shirakawa (1053–1129) said that there were three unmanageable things: the armed monks from Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei, the roll of the dice, and the water of the Kamo River.